Chapter 1: Principles of Government Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering Chapter 1: Principles of Government, including basic powers of government, theories of the state, forms of government, foundations of democracy, and economic systems.

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

Public Policy

The many goals that a government pursues, encompassing all of the things a government decides to do.

Legislative Power

The basic power of government to make laws and frame public policies.

Executive Power

The basic power of government to execute, administer, and enforce the law.

Judicial Power

The basic power of government to interpret laws and settle disputes.

Constitution

The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government.

Politics

The process by which a society decides how power and resources will be distributed within that society.

Sovereignty

Having supreme and absolute authority within a territory, with the power to make rules over itself.

Force Theory

The theory of state origin asserting that states began when stronger people conquered weaker people through force and war (modern example: North Korea).

Evolutionary Theory

The theory of state origin asserting that states developed naturally out of families and larger kinship groups (modern example: Traditional Tribal Societies).

Divine Right Theory

The theory of state origin asserting that government was created by God and rulers received their authority from God (modern examples: Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Vatican City).

Social Contract Theory

The theory associated with Thomas Hobbes and John Locke holding that people voluntarily agree to create a government to protect their rights (modern example: United States).

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens directly make laws and decisions, with high direct control (example: Ancient Athens).

Representative Democracy

A form of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them, working well for large populations (example: United States).

Autocracy

A form of government in which a single person holds unlimited political power and authority (example: North Korea).

Oligarchy

A form of government in which power is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite group (example: Ancient Sparta).

Unitary Government

A centralized government system in which all power belongs to a single central agency (example: United Kingdom).

Federal Government

A form of government in which power is divided between a central government and local governments (example: United States).

Confederate Government

A system where independent states give limited power to a central government, with the individual states keeping most of the power.

Presidential Government

A form of government in which the executive and legislative branches are separate, independent, and equal (example: United States).

Parliamentary Government

A form of government in which the executive branch (usually a prime minister) is chosen by and is part of the legislative branch (example: United Kingdom).

Anarchy

A lack of government, leaving no laws or organizational system to protect people and maintain order.

Individual Worth

A fundamental democratic concept asserting that every person is important and has value.

Equality (Foundations of Democracy)

A fundamental democratic concept asserting that all people should have equal rights and opportunities.

Majority Rule

A fundamental democratic concept where the majority makes decisions while simultaneously protecting minority rights.

Individual Freedom

A fundamental democratic concept establishing that people have the freedom to make their own choices.

Compromise

A fundamental democratic concept where people work together and make agreements when they disagree.

Free Enterprise System

An economic system (also known as capitalism, private enterprise system, or market-based system) based on private ownership, individual initiative, profit, and competition.

Supply and Demand

The market force that sets decisions about production and price in the American economic system.

Mixed Economy

An economic system in which private enterprise exists alongside considerable government regulation, justified to protect the public and preserve private enterprise.